[dpav]

I really do not wish to scare off anyone from their choice of meters. But the biggest thing I have found, SO FAR, is all of the Plasma meters I have owned have been 25 to 40 mg/dsl higher than all of the whole blood meters I have owned. If the Plasma meters would stay the same and be consistent, I could adjust. But I have gotten 4 new plasma meters and every one of them has all had regular inconsistent readings. This is what scares me away from the plasma meters. The Profile is still made and supported by lifescan. It does take 45 seconds for the reading. But the readings have always been consistent. Even my old Accucheck Whole blood meter and my old Glucometer have all stayed consistent. But they have all been whole blood.
I have the Ultra Onetouch, The Ultra Smart , the Precision Extra, , They all have irregular readings. Either I have some extremely weird method of testing, or they have not made accurate meters.
I simply suggest making a series or 2 or 3 tests per time and check to see if your meters stay close enough to the original reading. If it is consistent, Then I am sure it will be quite fine. I just have had no luck with them in several years.
Don

[pacon]

Originally posted by dpav
I really do not wish to scare off anyone from their choice of meters. But the biggest thing I have found, SO FAR, is all of the Plasma meters I have owned have been 25 to 40 mg/dsl higher than all of the whole blood meters I have owned.

Plasma readings are 12% higher than whole blood readings, in average, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. The accuracy with these meters is a different problem…

[lgvincent]

I've been trying to get the One Touch UltraSmart meter for some time and now that I've gotten one it sort of looks like it's worthless. Good thing I didn't have to pay a lot for it, although the strips sure are high. Guess I should have saved the money and put it on one of those Freestyle Tracker's that I'd love to have but will never be able to afford. My brain must look like swiss cheese, with lots of air pockets in it.

[Clint]

I started with a One Touch basic that my CDE gave me and I hated it. My CDE then gave me a One Touch Profile and it was much better. I just don't like how much blood it takes to test.

I now have an Accu Check Advantage and I like it ok. I am really tired of pricking my fingers so I am really considering getting a Freestyle Flash.

[dpav]

The only thing I care about is, does the meter keep reading the same level of blood sugar during multiple tests. Like taking 3 or 4 tests at the same time, will the reading be very close to each other. If that is so, Then I will be comfortable with it. I understood the Ultra Smart was reading higher. That was fine; But It read multiple tests with a wide range of answers within 5 minutes. , The same with the other two I used.
By the way there are brand new test strips for the profile. They are blue in color and require much less blood for the tests. I like that part about the new strips.
If you have regular readings with plasma meters let me know.
I hate the blood for 12 tests per day but I hate to be out of control more.

[pacon]

Hot topic this is. I suppose I have to say something about my favourite meter, just not risking being out of topic. Ultra is my favourite daily meter (until I can get hand of the Ultra Smart or something similar). It’s small, quick, reliable, and has the highest temperature span. I have tested a lot of different meters, and I realize that there are meters for every need. I also have a meter with very high accuracy, but I only use this one when there really is a problem, just because the Ultra, and meters like Ultra, is so much easier to use.

Originally posted by dpav
The only thing I care about is, does the meter keep reading the same level of blood sugar during multiple tests. Like taking 3 or 4 tests at the same time, will the reading be very close to each other.

Last year I used three Ultras simultaneously, to test this out. I posted my results earlier here on the forum.

http://www.diabetesforums.com/showth...=9715#post9715

Later I did the same test with two Freestyle meters, with the new plasma adjusted strips, and also compared this to a lab meter. The result was exactly the same as for the Ultra meters. The error margin with all these meters is really -+20%, as the manufactures state, especially when BG levels are below 100 mg/dl. However, FDA doesn’t require more from these meters, and manufactures won’t do more than the have to, to be able to sell test strips. Manufactures state that they can provide test strips with higher accuracy, but that this strips will be so expensive, nobody will by them.

But this is only a problem if you have a really tight control over your diabetes, or if you can’t feel hypos anymore, otherwise its ok I guess.

[Bolman]

Glad I started this topic, I have learned a lot reading about everyones experiance with the large varity of meters. About two years ago I used a meter which i beleive was a product of One Touch, it also tested you'r blood for keytones. Has anyone else ever tried this? I loved it and I recently heard that it has been discontinued.

Kelly

[dpav]

Thanks Pacon
This additional information has helped back up my experience. I simply do not yet have any trust in any Plasma meters at this time. So far the only meter that has remained consistent with my testing has been any and all of my whole blood meters. At this time I am using the Profile.
It is still disappointing that I can not trust meters to stay the same with the same tests.

[Linda57]

I use an Accu-chek Advantage, which I think, is small, compact and sexy looking.

Its the first and only one I have ever owned, and I am very happy with it.

Occaisionally, when I want to test , it has a picture of a little thermometer on it - I am assuing this is because I have kept it where it has got too cold - do I wait for it to warm up before using?

Love Linda

[lgvincent]

That indicates that the meter is too cold or too hot. I've had it happen when I've left it in a car on a hot day or when I've left it in a cold room. I usually try to let it warm up or cool off, whatever the case may be, before using it. Although I could be wrong, I'm under the impression that the blood glucose reading may not be as accurate when the meter has been exposed to temperatures outside it's operating range and that picture is used as a warning to let you know to take that fact into consideration.

[Gary]

I really do appreciate the offer but what I have in mind is something psychedelic or Funka-delic.

Right On.! Can you dig it? You bet your Bippy! Power to the People! Look that up in your Funk and Wagnails!

That kind of thing.

rzrbks, don't forget, "Here Comes The Judge", or "The Devil Made Me Do It", LOL!

Freestyle is the meter I use, and it seems to do the job for me.

Zookeeper, those meter skins are a great idea! Now if they only had them for sports teams.

[Belinda]

How can one of those meters be sexy?

[Linda57]

It just is - ok? *blushes*

Linda

[Belinda]

If you say so but I have found nothing about diabetes sexy....except that the fact that my significant other dotes on me when my B/G drops or when I need to check it then I get all the attention....LOL

[gugarci]

My son and I both use the Freestyle. He has a Flash i used the original. I think the small blood sample is very important with little kids. My son is 7.